Philadelphia could soon have the nation's highest tax on sugary drinks like soda.

Mayor Michael Nutter is proposing a two-cent tax on every ounce of sugary drinks sold including beverages like ice tea and chocolate milk.

"Everything has a cost…The reality is, the cost of our services unfortunately is a little more than the total amount of taxes collected," Nutter said.

The tax would bump the cost of a 20-ounce soda by 40 cents. The mayor is using the extra revenue to help fill the city's budget gaps.

Nutter is also hoping it will put a dent in Philadelphia's obesity problem as half of the city's children are overweight.

"While I don't think it's something the public will fully embrace, it is necessary to provide some level of service that maintains the quality of life that we need," said Councilman Wilson Goode Jr., a supporter of the tax. "Also, it's an investment in terms of future public health expenditures."